Hypopituitarsim Is Associated with Triglyceride Enrichment of Very Low-Density Lipoprotein

The dyslipidemia associated with hypopituitarism may contribute to increased vascular mortality. The atherogenic potential of lipoproteins is determined not only by concentration but also by their composition. We therefore studied very low-density lipoprotein composition and apolipoprotein B kinetics in 16 hypopituitary subjects and 16 controls. Hypopituitarism was associated with reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.98[0.82–1.18] vs. 1.35[1.15–1.41] mmol/liter, P < 0.001) and increased triglyceride concentrations (1.64[1.09–2.77] vs. 1.12[0.66–1.67] mmol/liter, P = 0.01). Total (P = 0.76) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.56) concentrations were similar. Very low-density lipoprotein- triglyceride was significantly increased (1.48[1.02–2.55] vs. 0.9[0.31–2.30] mmol/liter, P = 0.004), but very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were similar (P = 0.93). The molar ratios of very low-density lipoprotein-triglyceride:apolipoprotein B (6193[4283–9566] vs. 3599[3188–6854], P = 0.0...